Quick Garlicky Parmesan Crostini

Happy New Yeaaaaarrrrr! . . .ish.

I gotsta be straight up with you right now. This isn’t my recipe. I did not come up with this perfectly simple, satisfying, knock-your-face-off-to-yummy-town appetizer. No, no. Not me. Not I. Not myself. Not even Irene. (who IS Irene?)

This appie is actually brought to you by my super cute and super talented niece, Ella! As in, she created this recipe. She made this. And she’s seven years old. Ugh.

Look at it!

It was four weeks ago, Thanksgiving, when I caught her prepping an appetizer for a big family dinner at my in-laws’. I asked her what she was making, and she very casually and maturely responded, “Oh, just some cheesy garlic toast for everyone, before we eat.” (She’s SEVEN.)

Me, “Uhhhhh Ella, can I please shoot you making this for my blog, over Christmas?”

She blushed and giggled through a sweet, “Whaaaat? Okay!”

(SEVEN YEARS OLD)

Parmesan cheese. Minced garlic (the adult can do that part). Butter chunks. Dried oregano. All mixed up. All pressed and crumbled together. All happily in flavor love. Sprinkled on sliced baguette. Toasted to a most beautiful golden brown you are guaranteed to slap yourself.

That salty cheese melts down into the butter, and the garlic infuses the mix, and the oregano adds that little bit of herby omph. In short, OMG.

I mentioned Ella’s seven years old, right? Were you doing this at seven years old? No. Was I? No way, dude. I was probably making my little sister eat sand through a broken garden hose.

Tr. . . true story.

Also, New Year’s Eve. Hello, this would be perfect. (Look at her little hand! If we compared hands mine would be a pile of veins.)

I plan on doubling this recipe on New Year’s Eve and making it for a gigantic party crowd. And by gigantic party crowd I mean my face.

SEVEN.

Quick Garlicky Parmesan Crostini:

What it took for 12 -16 pieces (depending on the size of your baguette):

* 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
* 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 Tbs. butter, room temp
* 1 tsp dried oregano
* 1 baguette, sliced into 1/4-inch slices

Preheat oven to 350. (or use a toaster oven in batches)

In a medium bowl, combine the cheese, garlic, butter and oregano. Using your fingers, press all the ingredients together, almost becoming a thick paste. A thick, garlicky, cheesy, buttery paste. Goodness gracious.

Place about a Tbs. of the cheesy mix on each baguette slice. Slide into the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is starting to bubble and the baguette is golden brown on the edges. It may take a little longer, depending on your oven.

Place on a serving platter and eat it all, I mean serve it up!

* we didn’t add salt, as real parmigiano-reggiano is deliciously salty as is.
* for an extra OMG, sauté the garlic before the adding it to the mix.

They’re extra delicious if you eat them in your pajamas.